Mineral-separator.



' PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1907. R. J. MOKEONB. v

MINERAL SBPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1907.

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RICHARD J. MCKEONE, OF SAULT STE. MARIE, MICHIGAN.

MINERAL-SEPARATOR.

Application filed January 9,1907. Serial No. 361,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. McKEONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sault Ste. Marie, in the county of Chippewa and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mineral-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to separators and particularly to mineral separators employing water for separating purposes.

The prime object of this invention is to provide an improved machine of such novel and peculiar construction and arrangement of parts that the machine is made specially applicable in locations or mining districts where the water supply is small, or unequal to the demands of ordinary separators.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mineral separating machine or apparatus having such peculiar devices and special arrangement of parts that a body of water is made to circulate freely and is reused without waste thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a mineral washer and separator, a centrifugal water wheel having a central suction tube discharging into the wheel, and one or more vertically disposed conical funnels having an adjustable cone by which the speed of the water currents may be controlled.

Other objects and advantages and improved results in the treatment of minerals will be found in the practical application of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application :Figure 1 is a top plan view with sprocket chains removed and without a conveyer. sectional view on the line x:t Fig. 1 showing a sprocket chain in position. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 1 -y Fig. 1, showing the conveyer. v

The same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The frame 1 of the machine or apparatus is preferably rectangular, and has a water-tight casing 2 open at its top, and is provided in its bottom with a trap-door 3, for the removal of all mineral that may deposit or accumulate therein. The frame 1, is provided with uprights 4, and cross braces 5, in certain of which is journaled a shaft 7, having guide pulleys 8 for an elevator 9, which is operated by sprocket wheels 10, one pair of which has a shaft 11 journaled at 12, and the other pair of which is carried by a shaft 13, journaled in the uprights 4..

The casing 2 is divided into three sections or compartments 14, 22 and 23. The compartments 14 and 23, being connected by a passage 14 at each side of the compartment 22. The compartment 14, has a sluice-box 15, partly occupied by a pile of amalgamated copper plates 16, immersed in a body of water Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 is a Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

circulated in the compartments 14 and 23 around the compartment 22. The elevator works around the sluice box whence the discharge of said box is carried off by the elevator. A vertically disposed conical funnel 17, is formed in the compartment 14, and has a cone plug 18, given vertical adjustment by a screw rod 19, operated by a hand wheel 20, to vary the interval or space between the funnel and its plug for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the speed of the water at that point. A throat or channel 21, extends from the bottom of the funnel under the compartment 22 and opens into a wheel housing24, having a journal bearing 24. A centrifugal wheel 25, is secured and revolved by a driven shaft 20, and has a neck 24 Working in the bearing 24, and a suction mouth 27 projecting from the neck into the compartment 23, which is provided with a suitable ore hopper 28. The shaft 26 extends through the said mouth, neck and wheel into the compartment 22, where it is provided with a beveled gear 29, meshing with alike gear 30, on a vertical shaft 81, in the compartment 22, worm pinion S2, meshing with a worm wheel 33 on a shaft 34, which has secured thereto a sprocket wheel 35. A sprocket chain 36 connects the wheel 35 with a like wheel 37 on the shaft 13, for imparting motion to the elevator 9.

It is obvious that the discharge from the hopper is mingled with the water in compartment 23, whence it is drawn by the wheel through its mouth and forced into the channel or throat and then through the funand has a nel to the sluice box where the mineral will be collected by the plates 16; the sand and gravel passing on to be removed by the elevator, while the water from which said mineral is separated will flow back by way of each side of the central compartment to the wheel mouth.

It will be observed, that the mineral passing through the suction sluice is drawn into and forced out of the wheel by the revolution of said wheel; that the elevator is driven from the wheel shaft so that unison movement of all the movable parts is accomplished; that there is no separate starting or stopping of such parts; and that an increased or diminished momentum of the suction or centrifugal wheel will likewise effect the elevator.

It will be understood that the number of funnels may be increased according to the size of apparatus used, and that various structional details may be altered or dispensed with in'the practical building and workat the side of the middle compartment, a sluice box in one of the two said compartments, and a wheel housing in the other of the said compartments, of a centrifugal wheel in said housing, a conical funnel, a vertical screw plug adjustable in the funnel, a throat or channel extending under the said middle compartment and connecting the funnel and the housing, and means to operate thesaid wheel.

2. in a mineral separator, the combination, with three compartments two of which are connected by a passage externally oi the central compartment, and a centrifugal wheel and housing on one side of the central compartment, of a sluice box on the other side thereof, a conical funnel discharging into the sluice box and having" a throat or channel extending under said central compartment and opening into the said wheel housing, a conical plug adjustable in the funnel to vary the discharge of the latter, and means to drive the said wheel.

3. [n a mineral separator, the combination, with three compartments two of which are connected externally of the central compartment, a centrifugal wheel and housing, a conical i'unnel, a funnel plug having a screw threaded stem or shaft, a sluice box receiving IlOIIl the funnel, a throat leading from the said wheel housing under said central compartment into the bottom of the funnel, and an elevator Working around the sluice box, of a wheel driving shaftterminating in the central compartment, a vertical shaft in said central compartment, and provided with a worm pinion and having a gear meshing with a gear on the terminal of the driving shaft, the elevator shafts the shaft having a wheel meshing with the worm pinion, and the chain and sprockets for imparting motion to the elevator,

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the pres ence of two witnesses.

RICHARD J. \ICKEONE. Witnesses RONALD Jr MAcMAsTnn, MAME E. MAcMAsTnR. 

